Sean McKaveney Wins Men’s Division
by: Julian Del Gaudio / Fox5 San Diego / Dec. 10, 2025
24 hours. Below freezing temperatures. The adventure of a lifetime.
Sean McKaveney’s vacations are unlike any other. He’s a lawyer by day with a lust for life’s ultimate adventures.
One of his recent adventures was the Antarctic Ice Ultra 50k, a total of 31 miles and the ultimate test.
“The wind was howling, it was minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit,” said McKaveney, “We started just about 15 runners. You’re looking through the start gate and all you see is white in every direction, the wind is just pounding your face.”
“They told us it was good conditions too,” laughed McKaveney. “We wanted the full experience, and we definitely got it.”
“I’d run some big races in the past,” continued the Point Loma High School alum. “I did some big races in the past. I did a marathon at Mount Everest, they’re amazing experiences, but when I heard about an Ultra Marathon in Antarctica, I couldn’t think of anything bigger.”
Or colder.
“This is one of the most challenging races in the world,” continued the Mission Hills resident. “You definitely have some adrenaline that first mile, you’re looking in every direction, talking to some of the other runners, but very quickly it becomes real.”
“Sweat is a very big danger in Antarctica,” continued McKaveney. “You can easily overheat if you have too much gear on. When you sweat, it freezes, and that’s when hypothermia sets in, and frostbite too. It’s a big balancing test to manage your internal heat, not go out too fast and then still maintain a good pace.”
A little more than 7 hours and 55 minutes later, mission accomplished.
